Northern Illinois University Overview

Northern Illinois University is a four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in, higher education institution located in Dekalb, IL. It has an enrollment of 11,819 undergraduate students. The admissions acceptance rate is 70.45%.

The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $14,266. Tuition is $12,478.00 without financial aid.

Northern Illinois University is a predominantly bachelor’s-degree granting school.

At Northern Illinois University, 67.47% of students return after freshman year (national average: 68%).

Northern Illinois University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1.

Northern Illinois University Website

Northern Illinois University Admissions

For the incoming class in 2023, the acceptance rate was 70.45%.

SAT or ACT scores are neither required nor recommended

• The average SAT score was unreported for the incoming class of 2023.
• The median ACT score was unreported for the incoming class to 2023.

Northern Illinois University Cost

The average annual cost of attendance after financial aid is $14,266. The in-state tuition is $12,478.00. Out-of-state tuition is $12,478.00

The average tuition is:

• $11,594, when family income is less than $30,000

• $12,005, when family income is between $30,001 and $48,000 

• $14,221, when family income is between $48,001 and $75,000

• $17,912, when family income is between $75,001 and $110,000

• $21,046, when family income is more than $110,000 

The average tuition shown here is based on the NET costs to students who receive financial aid. For the incoming class of 2023, 50.31% of students received a federal student loan and 42.84% of students received a Pell Grant.

Tuition is $12,478.00 without financial aid, or the in-state tuition discount.

Northern Illinois University Net Price Calculator

Northern Illinois University Majors/Salaries

Northern Illinois University has academic offerings within the core majors listed below.  

Please note that different schools classify majors differently, so it is best to view the school’s website to see the various programs it offers. See detailed information about the individual majors at Northern Illinois University here.

Recent Graduate Salaries

(Average salaries of students from select majors two years after graduation)

• Natural Resources Conservation and Research. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,058
• Communication and Media Studies. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,541
• Communication and Media Studies. (Master’s Degree) – $25,194
• Journalism. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,250
• Computer Science. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $59,519
• Computer Science. (Master’s Degree) – $75,204
• Curriculum and Instruction. (Doctoral Degree) – $84,913
• Educational Administration and Supervision. (Master’s Degree) – $42,682
• Educational Administration and Supervision. (Doctoral Degree) – $98,186
• Educational/Instructional Media Design. (Master’s Degree) – $58,866
• Special Education and Teaching. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $43,277
• Special Education and Teaching. (Master’s Degree) – $48,432
• Student Counseling and Personnel Services. (Master’s Degree) – $46,217
• Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,054
• Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $37,503
• Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. (Master’s Degree) – $50,231
• Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $66,989
• Mechanical Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $64,150
• Mechanical Engineering. (Master’s Degree) – $86,867
• Industrial Engineering. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $62,409
• Engineering Technology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $57,888
• Engineering-Related Fields. (Master’s Degree) – $66,077
• Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
• Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
• Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $38,289
• Apparel and Textiles. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $42,682
• Law. (First Professional Degree) – $50,960
• English Language and Literature, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,051
• English Language and Literature, General. (Master’s Degree) – $48,432
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,565
• Biology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,459
• Mathematics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $43,922
• Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,467
• Health and Physical Education/Fitness. (Master’s Degree) – $39,585
• Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $38,289
• Chemistry. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $35,060
• Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $40,188
• Psychology, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $30,134
• Psychology, General. (Doctoral Degree) – $68,499
• Human Services, General. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,685
• Public Administration. (Master’s Degree) – $52,107
• Anthropology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,938
• Economics. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $47,260
• Geography and Cartography. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $44,189
• Political Science and Government. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $33,798
• Sociology. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $32,687
• Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $23,803
• Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. (Master’s Degree) – $39,369
• Fine and Studio Arts. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $27,346
• Fine and Studio Arts. (Master’s Degree) – $28,055
• Music. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $25,194
• Music. (Master’s Degree) – $33,993
• Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $21,383
• Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. (Master’s Degree) – $53,608
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $56,415
• Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $29,016
• Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,608
• Public Health. (Master’s Degree) – $37,208
• Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. (Doctoral Degree) – $69,151
• Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $31,374
• Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. (Master’s Degree) – $49,136
• Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $65,924
• Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. (Master’s Degree) – $88,920
• Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $51,511
• Business Administration, Management and Operations. (Master’s Degree) – $91,587
• Accounting and Related Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $57,318
• Accounting and Related Services. (Master’s Degree) – $63,685
• Finance and Financial Management Services. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $51,145
• Management Information Systems and Services. (Master’s Degree) – $70,009
• Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $46,869
• Marketing. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $45,127
• Taxation. (Master’s Degree) – $78,971
• History. (Bachelor’s Degree) – $36,437

Northern Illinois University Diversity

The racial diversity of students who received financial aid at Northern Illinois University

• American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.15%
• Asian: 6.12%
• Black: 20.33%
• Hispanic: 22.00%
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.08%
• Non-resident alien: 1.20%
• Two or more races: 4.05%
• Unknown: 0.32%
• White: 45.75%

At Northern Illinois University, 15.44% of undergraduate students are 25 years old, or older.

Northern Illinois University Frequently Asked Questions

How is school spirit at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is known for its strong school spirit. The campus and student body are very supportive of the school’s athletic teams, especially the football team. Tailgating before games is a popular activity among students and alumni, and the school’s mascot, Victor E. Huskie, is a beloved symbol of NIU. The school also has a variety of student organizations and events that promote school spirit, such as Homecoming Week and the Huskie Pride Fund. NIU even has an annual tradition called “Cherry Bowl” where students plant cherry trees to celebrate the school’s growth and progress. Overall, NIU is considered to have a vibrant and lively school spirit culture.

What are some popular extracurriculars at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University offers a wide range of extracurricular activities for its students to get involved in, some of the popular extracurricular activities at Northern Illinois University are: 1. Student Government Association 2. Greek Life 3. Club Sports 4. Intramural Sports 5. NIU Steelband 6. Center for Student Involvement and Leadership 7. Northern Star Newspaper 8. Huskie Hack 9. Theatre Arts Productions 10. NIU Robotics Club These extracurricular activities provide students with opportunities to engage with peers who share similar interests, develop new skills, build relationships, and contribute to the community through volunteering.

How are the food choices at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University offers a variety of dining options for students with varied tastes and dietary preferences. The university has numerous dining halls, including Gilbert Hall, which is the largest dining hall on campus that serves a variety of cuisines including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Students also have access to retail dining locations including coffee shops, convenience stores, and restaurants. These locations offer a wide variety of food options including sushi, sandwiches, pizza, and burgers. Additionally, NIU has partnered with national brands such as Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Qdoba to provide more diverse food options for students. Overall, Northern Illinois University is well-regarded for its vast dining options which cater to all types of taste buds and dietary restrictions.

Is there Greek life at Northern Illinois University?

Yes, Northern Illinois University (NIU) has a Greek life community, with a variety of fraternities and sororities available for students to join. There are currently 29 active chapters on campus, with membership ranging from around 25 to 150 students per chapter. Greek life at NIU offers opportunities for leadership development, community service, academic support, and social events, among other benefits.

What is Northern Illinois University known for?

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is known for its strong programs in business, engineering, education, and healthcare-related fields. The College of Business at NIU is well-regarded and has accreditation from AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Additionally, NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is ranked among the top engineering schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also known for having a large and highly regarded College of Education, as well as a well-established College of Health and Human Sciences. Social work, nursing, and rehabilitation counseling are just a few of the many healthcare-related programs offered by NIU.

What are the most popular school clubs at Northern Illinois University?

Northern Illinois University has a wide variety of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. Some of the most popular clubs at NIU include: 1. NIU Gaming Club 2. Huskie Allies 3. Black Student Union 4. Asian American Association 5. Dance Marathon 6. NIU Marching Band 7. Newman Catholic Student Association 8. NIU Indian Student Association 9. Women’s Rugby Club 10. American Meteorological Society Student Chapter These are just a few examples among many clubs available on campus. Students can explore the full list of organizations on the NIU website.

Is the campus at Northern Illinois University safe?

Northern Illinois University has made considerable efforts to ensure the safety of their students, faculty, and staff. The university has its own police department with officers on duty 24/7. They are also equipped with a text and emergency notification system that sends out alerts when there is a potential safety concern. Additionally, NIU provides safety programs and training sessions for students, faculty, and staff to raise awareness and teach them the necessary skills to handle potential threats. However, like any university, there is always a potential for crime, so it is best to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.